Sydney to Hobart yacht race line honours dark horse has surprise up her sleeve, latest news
They have stayed out of the spotlight in the lead-up but this supermaxi crew believe they could pull off a “surprise” in the race for Sydney to Hobart line honours for a couple of reason.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Top Australian sailor Chris Nicholson believes Comanche and Wild Oats are in the box seat to take line honours in the Sydney to Hobart but that doesn’t mean they will.
The Lake Macquarie based sailing master, racing aboard the well campaigned 100-footer LawConnect, said the supermaxi is a dark horse for the race honours, partly due to a major modification made to the boat over a year ago but never utitlised in the last race.
“I think we will be all right,” said the two-time Australian Olympian and round the world racer who is part of the think tank aboard Christian Beck’s yacht - the 2016 line honours winner Perpetual Loyal
“I think we should be rated as the underdogs but we have a chance to win this.
“We put a bigger bow sprit on last year and never got a chance to use those sails because it was all upwind. Now we can and we might surprise people in this.’’
A longer bow sprit allows LawConnect to carry bigger spinnakers and headsails which will help with her speed in the downwind race on the menu for all but the smallest and slowest.
Nicholson said he expects the race between the supermaxis to be closer than most think with all four - Andoo Comanche, Wild Oats, last year’s winner Black Jack and LawConnect - in with a shot.
He also believes the current forecast may slightly favour the nine-time line honours winner Wild Oats which excels in downwind racing.
There are eight international yachts in the race to Hobart in 2022 including German Max Klink’s 52-footer Caro which is attempting to become the first overseas yacht to win the race overall since Giacomo from New Zealand, in 2016.
The much-fancied New Zealand yacht is well campaigned with some of the best known ocean racers in the world in her crew, including navigator Jules Salter and sailing master Justin Ferris.
Skipper Klink, a five-time veteran of the race, said he and the crew were ready to race after last year having to shelve plans to compete due to the coronavirus pandemic and associated restrictions.
“The boat is good, the crew is very good and we are very prepared,’’ he said.
“But its hard to name any favourites. You have to sail a perfect race and not make mistakes.
“And this is the strongest line-up of offshore 52-footers anywhere in the world.
“We are looking forward to it. We are super keen and cannot wait to get out there and sheet on.’’
This year's super fast run is in stark contrast to the race a year ago where 38 yachts were forced to retire after the event returned from a 2021 Covid cancellation.
It is also a far cry from the deadly storm in 1998 which claimed the lives of six sailors.
The race is a family affair for many this year with multiple sets of siblings racing along with fathers and daughters and fathers and sons in the case of Comanche skipper John “Herman” Winning and his father John “Woody” Winning.
More from AMANDA LULHAM HERE
The hidden AFL gems from the South Coast leagues of NSW
They’re the hidden country footy gems from the South Coast regions of NSW. Here’s 30+ of the best from the three major competitions.
‘Physical, combative’: What selectors looking for at Waratahs U15 trials
A desire to be “physical and combative’ are just two traits NSW Waratahs selectors are keen to see as 125 of NSW’s best junior talent hunt for spots in their U15’s squad this weekend.